Read Psalm 119:1-8

Read Psalm 119:1-8

¹Blessed are those whose ways are blameless,^a

who walk^b according to the law of the Lord.^c

²Blessed^d are those who keep his statutes^e

and seek him^f with all their heart—^g

³they do no wrong^h

but follow his ways.ⁱ

⁴You have laid down precepts^j

that are to be fully obeyed.^k

⁵Oh, that my ways were steadfast

in obeying your decrees!^l

⁶Then I would not be put to shame^m

when I consider all your commands.ⁿ

⁷I will praise you with an upright heart

as I learn your righteous laws.^o

⁸I will obey your decrees;

do not utterly forsake me.^p

Think

The Psalmist invites us to hold ourselves a little closer to the light of God’s law.  He mourns the fact that he is not as righteous as he should be.  Its easy when we’re honest with ourselves to think we’re so awful that there is no hope; but with God there is always hope, so the Psalmist boldly positively prays:

Pray

‘I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me.’

Ask God to fan your hunger and thirst for his righteousness.

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^a S Ge 17:1; S Dt 18:13; Pr 11:20

^b Ps 128:1

^c S Ps 1:2

^d Ps 112:1; Isa 56:2

^e ver 146; Ps 99:7

^f S 1Ch 16:11; S Ps 40:16

^g S Dt 10:12

^h S Ps 59:4; 1Jn 3:9; 5:18

ⁱ Ps 128:1; Jer 6:16; 7:23

^j Ps 103:18

^k S ver 56; S Dt 6:17

^l S Lev 19:37

^m ver 46,80

ⁿ ver 117

^o S Dt 4:8

^p S Ps 38:21